In this week's Glasshouse: Rahul Gandhi and his European Twitter disaster, Atal Bihari Vajpayee ashes reach rivers around the country.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi's Europe sojourn was a disaster, at least on social media. First, a picture of him checking out the menu at a fast food joint was trolled on Twitter because it was posted just hours after Congress veteran Gurudas Kamat passed away. Then, the BJP retweeted another post that carried a four-photo montage of Rahul's moods in Berlin, drawing laughs online.

The head of the party's media cell, Divya Spandana, was ticked off by both Rahul and Sam Pitroda, head of the party's overseas wing. Pitroda wanted the posts deleted but Rahul thought it would give the BJP more Twitter fodder. Divya herself was miffed because Pitroda made her hold the microphone during Rahul's public interaction. Last heard, a cold war is brewing between her and Nikhil Alva, Rahul's own social media gatekeeper.

Making Ashes of Themselves

It sounded like a brilliant idea: handing over the urns containing the ashes of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to district presidents of the BJP to immerse them in the rivers in their respective states. Except the event degenerated into an orgy of selfie- and video-taking, with grinning leaders tossing the urns into the waters. Appalled, the party is said to have pulled the plug on another event commemorating Vajpayee at the panchayat level.

Writing on the Wall

Chief ministers in Uttar Pra­desh use walls to shore up their vote banks. So Akhilesh Yadav wanted walls built around Muslim cemeteries in the last year of his government. Now, the Yogi Adityanath government is planning to erect walls aro­­und Ramlila grounds in the state. The proposal will be put before the cabinet before the festival season begins. Grounds for cheer?

PULLQUOTE

"India should invade the Maldives if rigging of election takes place"

- Subramanian Swamy

Photo: Vikram Sharma

With this terse tweet last week, Subramanian Swamy, BJP Rajya Sabha member and seemingly the party's designated loose cannon, triggered a minor diplomatic skirmish. The Indian ambassador was subject to some harrumphing in Male and the government disassociated itself with what it characterised as Swamy's personal view. India's relations with the Maldives have been tense as incumbent president Abdulla Yameen, who imposed a 45-day Emergency in February, is perceived to be backed by China. Elections are scheduled for September 23.